Academy Will Continue To Be Source For Players

12 January 2017

David Artell says he will continue to promote good young players from our own ranks.

David Artell may have stepped up from his role in the Academy to become the club’s new manager, but he says he will continue to follow the club’s philosophy and business model by promoting players from our Youth set-up.

His predecessor Steve Davis continued the club’s tradition and went on to secure promotion to League One with nine Academy graduates in the team that defeated Cheltenham 2-0 at Wembley back in 2012.

Ironically, Artell himself was the only outfield player to have arrived at the club from another club having signed from Morecambe. The other was the vastly experienced goalkeeper Steve Phillips.

Artell explained his belief in giving young players a chance: “The Football Club has a very clear business model.

“Some supporters may think that the Academy is expensive but in the grand scheme of things, it is not. It is actually a cheaper way to develop a first-team squad.

“By having our own players coming through it means that we save on fees, agent fees and wages. There will be 100 reasons why us having an Academy remains the best way forward for us.

Artell added: “What we need to do is supplement our better Academy players with players we need for certain positions. It is getting that mix right but if he had 11 outstanding Academy graduates then why wouldn’t I play them?”